copyright notice

Call for subs!

DEADLINE is 20th July 2014 for ‘COURTSHIP TANKA’ and ‘FOR THE LOVE OF IT’ entries.

General submissions for the summer issue are now closed. However, there’s still time to get involved in two new sections of Kigo: Seasonal Words.

For the love of it!

Submissions are now open for short personal essay type pieces telling us what you love about haiku/tanka/haibun/senryu etc. What does Japanese poetry mean to you? When/how did you start writing it? Do you use the form in your teaching? Interesting experiences? Are you involved in a poetry group or other association that supports the form? Do you have a pamphlet of your own, or are you involved in any collaborative haiku projects/anthologies? Here’s your chance to shout about it!

Please keep pieces around the 500 word mark. Images may be included (jpeg, low res only please). Email to haiku@chuffedbuffbooks.com by 20th JULY 2014. Selected entries will appear in the August issue, available via this website.

Courtship tanka!

Calling for writers to take part in writing tanka on the theme of courtship/love/secret messages. Each writer will write a tanka for the summer issue and will then respond to a tanka (other than their own) in the autumn issue.

Tanka were traditionally used by men and women engaged in courtship. After a night of passion, lovers would busy themselves with the task of creating the perfect romantic gift, or ‘short song’ for their loved one. The ability to write verse was cherished and tanka became well respected vehicles for the exchange of romantic messages. (For an interesting piece on the topic – and informational website – visit Tanka for the Memory by Jane Reichhold, here.)

The brief is for each writer to write a tanka to a lover – real or imaginary it’s up to you! It may be about any aspect of courtship/love. Selected tanka will appear in the August issue of Kigo: Seasonal Words.

Writers of selected tanka will then be asked to write a tanka in response to a tanka other than their own. At this stage (in Sept or Oct), names will be drawn to ensure each of the selected tanka receives a response. The responding tanka will then appear in the Autumn/Winter (December) issue of Kigo: Seasonal Words.

Please do not submit courtship tanka if you cannot also take part in the follow up December issue!

As always, only submit original and previously unpublished work – see the general submission guidelines here. Unfortunately, there is no payment for selected entries. This project is fuelled by love and a desire to have a bit of fun with poetry. Issues of Kigo: Seasonal Words are available for download from this website, free of charge.

You may submit no more than two courtship tanka.

For those who have already submitted haiku/tanka for the summer issue, this callout is separate and you may still submit up to two courtship tanka.

Email your entry to haiku@chuffedbuffbooks.com by 20th July 2014.

DEADLINE is 20th July 2014 for ‘COURTSHIP TANKA’ and ‘FOR THE LOVE OF IT’ entries.